On the road: the Huntsville 2019 Jeep spreads the word about healthy, active living

A new vehicle will be taking the message of healthy, active living and aging on the road across Muskoka in the coming months.

On August 9, members of the Huntsville 2019 Games Organizing Committee (GOC) unveiled the Ontario 55+ Winter Games Jeep at the Canada Summit Centre. The event, which will be hosted by Huntsville and surrounding communities from March 5-7, 2019, will see almost 1,000 participants from across the province competing in 10 different sports.

Huntsville 2019 GM Sheri Renaud said that the GOC is grateful to platinum sponsor Drive Muskoka and its three area dealerships—Armstrong Dodge, Huntsville Honda and Hyundai of Muskoka—for supporting the Games with a Jeep to help spread the message as well as runner vehicles for use during Games time.

“The Games Jeep will be at the Ontario 55+ Summer Games this weekend in Mississauga, and at upcoming events around Muskoka,” said Renaud. “It will also be out visiting seniors centres around Muskoka and Lake of Bays. Watch for it around Huntsville in the months leading up to the Games.”

She also gave a shout out to the other local sponsors who have come on board already: Best Western Muskoka Inn, Comfort Inn & Suites, Dairy Farmers of Ontario, Deerhurst Resort, District of Muskoka, Fountain Tire, Hearing Life Canada, Hidden Valley Resort, Holiday Inn Express, Home Comfort Care Services, Huntsville Brewhouse, Lakeland Power, Motel 6, Seamliss Marketing and Graphics, the Town of Huntsville, the Township of Lake of Bays, and YourTV Muskoka.

“Having the support of our sponsors now really lets us mobilize to start planning for all the things we want to provide to the participants,” said Renaud, “and it encourages others to get on board. There are new and unique sponsorship opportunities available and we are excited to partner with local businesses. Their contribution directly impacts the experience of the participants and we just can’t do it without the community support.”

Businesses across Muskoka can get involved in the Games either as sponsors or by providing volunteer support. “If a local business or service group wants to support the Games but aren’t able to provide sponsorship, they may have services or people power that would really help us out,” said Renaud.

Renaud noted that with almost 1,000 participants and their family members travelling to Huntsville and area, the event will have some solid economic impact. “We fill just about every hotel in town, we’re going to be using a lot of our local restaurants as caterers, and we encourage participants to enjoy the many exciting activities and amenities that Huntsville and Muskoka have to offer. We have a great reputation for hosting these types of events here and we’re going to knock it out of the park.”